Black History Month 2012: Larry D. Bluford, Jr., an Evangelist Comes Full Circle
There is a common belief out there in a deeply jaded society that people do not change.
Let the story you are about to read today show that not only anyone can change, but with faith anything can be achieved.
Allow us to present to you that story and that man; Larry D. Bluford, Jr. In a deeply moving conversation, Larry discusses his past struggles, the power of his faith, his achievements because of that faith and the future.
Larry was born in New Orleans, Louisiana but has been in the bay area of northern California for more than 30 years. He grew up with a loving and warm family unlike most of the people who have walked his path. At age 12, a change in his behavior was triggered after his mother and father had separated.
From a troubled adolescent to the man that he is today, Larry is but one example with a story that has inspired others to change the ways of their life. Today he allows God to speak through him to lift the spirits of others through the ministry in which he founded. It’s called Operation T.H.U.G.S. (The Harvesting Unit Gathering Souls).
“I enjoy making people happy.” Larry said.
To be around this man, one would feel it next to impossible to believe that there was ever a troubled life that had occurred. The feeling and the vibe of a life that’s lived on the foundation of faith in God is in the air around him. It is impossible not to be caught in the gravitational pull of positivity that Larry possesses.
Again, as hard as it to believe, Larry had been in and out of the juvenile hall system between 14 and 18-years old for selling and doing various sorts of drugs. At age 22, Larry got married and had his first child.
“I thought getting married and having a child would slow me down, it didn’t at all.”
At times when one looks at themselves in a reflection, they may not recognize what it is they see or they may question it. Larry recalls what he saw when he looked in the mirror the night before his life would begin to take a different turn.
“It was the day before I was going to turn myself in. I was at my mom’s house,” he recalled. “I was high on coke; I looked at myself in the mirror and started crying. I was like, who are you? You are sitting here praying and want God to save you, stressing and doing coke. I just looked at myself and didn’t know that person anymore. I was so broken and hurt.”
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